Play the Red Queen

Having not so long ago read Tim Tran's refugee memoir, American Dreamer, which recounts his childhood in 1960s Vietnam, I was drawn to try Play The Red Queen because of its social history aspect. I love to learn about other countries' pasts through reading historical fiction and, on that score certainly, Jurjevics portrait of pre-war Saigon is indeed as 'breathtakingly atmospheric' as the synopsis promises. I understand Jurjevics revisited his own memories of Vietnam at this period as well as undertaking extensive research, and the approach allowed me to really feel as though I were in Saigon alongside Miser and Robeson. Seemingly minor details of scents, colours and texture, mentioned in passing, help to build up the authenticity of each scene.

Play The Red Queen unfortunately doesn't centre on the Viet Cong assassin of the title, but rather on the political manoeuvrings of two potential targets - President Diem himself and American ambassador, Lodge. I did frequently lose track of who was who in their entourages, especially when it came to the many Generals who might (or might not!) be involved in a planned coup. Miser and Robeson are bounced around like pinballs by far more powerful men so following the action from Miser's point of view meant I often felt too distanced. Although he managed to get himself into a number of unlikely situations, much of what really drives this narrative happened off the page leaving me frustrated that the stories I glimpsed in the shadows were more interesting, but remained untold.